It’s probably paradoxical that I’ve always lived in suburban settings but have aspired to living in higher density walkable neighborhoods where one can exist without driving everywhere. When I first moved to Las Vegas I looked for places in the Arts District, but it looked too much like converted motel spaces with under-powered wall mounted  A/C units and too unsafe against break-ins. So I rented an apartment off-strip on the edge of endless suburbia. Ugh. 

This movie poses an accidental idea of squatting in unused space in a local mall that contributed to the destruction and gentrification of their former living space, which sounds a like a perfect adolescent response to the shitty mindless “redevelopment” plans espoused by the rich. And then this idea became a four-year group project. As I was watching the documentary the thing that got me is how most malls are now dying properties. Single use properties with acres of parking lots is no one’s dream of paradise. Then they ended the movie hinting that developers were thinking of converting the mall property to multi-use properties with living spaces above commercial/retail first floor spaces. Duh. 

This isn’t just about a bunch illegal squatters who saw themselves as artists. Or if that’s your opinion, you’re missing the point. There’s a lot here about residential insecurity and how unabashed Capitalism doesn’t really work with the basic human needs for a safe space to live and community and what makes cities and communities work. If or when our world turns dystopian, it will be because we espoused values that doesn’t understand what really makes humanity work well or is healthy for us as people and our environments. We can do better.  

[Movie viewed on 2025-05-21 at The Beverly Theater]

Here’s an extended video on the documentary: 

Sources:

Tags: 2025 movies, documentary, residential insecurities, secret mall apartment, video Thursdays 

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